PlugPlay service won't start

[Guest]

I'm using XP Pro on a laptop and I've run into a problem with the plug and
play service not starting. When I go into Services and try to start it I get
the following error: Could not start the Plug and Play service on Local
Computer. Error 3: The system cannot find the path specified.
I click on OK and it goes back to the Services screen.
When I go into Properties for the Plug and Play service I get another error
saying: Configuration Manager: The Plug and Play service or another required
service is not available. I click on ok and it opens the properties. In the
properties window the Path to the Executable line is missing and I have no
idea how to fix it.

Any ideas??

Thanks!

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

I'm using XP Pro on a laptop and I've run into a problem with the plug and
play service not starting. When I go into Services and try to start it I get
the following error: Could not start the Plug and Play service on Local
Computer. Error 3: The system cannot find the path specified.
I click on OK and it goes back to the Services screen.
When I go into Properties for the Plug and Play service I get another error
saying: Configuration Manager: The Plug and Play service or another required
service is not available. I click on ok and it opens the properties. In the
properties window the Path to the Executable line is missing and I have no
idea how to fix it.

Make sure that the SERVICES.EXE exists in the SYSTEM32 subfolder. You
could also run a system fule check with the command
SFC /scannow
Also scan this machine for viruses and other malware.
Ad-aware (http://www.lavasoft.de)
"List of Antivirus Software Vendors"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=49500)

 

[Guest]

I checked the services.exe file and it is in the proper location. All
spyware has been removed from the computer using Adaware SE and Hijack This.
I ran a scan with the command you gave me, sfc /scannow, and it came back
with no problems.
Plug and play still doesn't work. Any other ideas? I've never seen this
problem before and I'm stumped.

Thanks!

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

I checked the services.exe file and it is in the proper location. All
spyware has been removed from the computer using Adaware SE and Hijack This.
I ran a scan with the command you gave me, sfc /scannow, and it came back
with no problems.
Plug and play still doesn't work. Any other ideas? I've never seen this
problem before and I'm stumped.

You may have to reinstall Windows to solve this problem. See "How to
Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341) for details.